Caribbean health officials push for universal health coverage

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) says ministers of health and other high-level delegates from countries in the Americas, have agreed on a series of actions to advance toward universal access to health and universal health coverage.

PAHO’s director, Dr Carissa Etienne, says the leaders agreed on a roadmap to progressively ensure that all people have access to the health services they need, when they need them, without fear of financial hardship.

She says it will be a gradual process and each country will follow its own path.

She stresses that achieving universal access and universal health coverage will promote the well-being of people throughout our region and contribute in an important way to the development of the countries.

PAHO says currently, 30 per cent of people in the Americas cannot access health care for financial reasons and 21 percent lack access to care because of geographical barriers.